On the street
Will the shortage of safe-to-eat tomatoes affect your diet?
Farmers’ Market, Farmers’ Market, Farmers’ Market. This is why you buy local. It may cost a little more, but they care what’s going into your food. So buy locally, and keep the money in our community. Get to know your grower.
McDonald's pulled big red tomatoes from its Big N' Tasty and premium chicken sandwiches.
At Chipotle Mexican Grill, it's hold the pico de gallo.
And for Checkers food store, assurances from a supplier that all of the store's tomatoes are safe hasn't quelled concerns among the buying public about tomatoes' link to a salmonella outbreak in at least 16 states.
"We have 'em out, but they're not selling very well," said Mike Smith, store director at Checkers, 2300 La., who said that all his tomatoes were from areas cleared as safe by federal officials.
Food providers and service establishments in Lawrence and elsewhere continued to grapple Monday with a nationwide tomato advisory, now that the Food and Drug Administration has warned people against eating specific kinds of tomatoes because of a risk of salmonella poisoning.
Since mid-April, 145 people in 16 states - including three people in Kansas - have been infected with the Salmonella Saintpaul bacteria, linked to three varieties of raw tomatoes: red plum, red roma and red round. At least 23 people have been hospitalized.
The potentially affected tomatoes do not include cherry or grape tomatoes, or any tomatoes sold with vines still attached. Such varieties are considered safe, said Kimberly Rawlings, a spokeswoman for the Food and Drug Administration.
McDonald's started pulling tomatoes off sandwiches nationwide Friday. But grape tomatoes continue to be served on the chain's premium salads.
"This is a precautionary measure only. McDonald's has not experienced any related issues to date," said Patrick Manning, spokesman for McDonald's of Lawrence.
At Chipotle, only one product was affected: pico de gallo, also known as mild salsa. But workers at the restaurant in downtown Lawrence adjusted - putting fewer jalapeños in the corn salsa, normally considered medium salsa - in an effort to help customers.
Turns out that pulling tomatoes may help business.
"It's kind of a good thing because it gets people to try different things," said Matt Sowders, manager at Chipotle. "It's something you really can't complain too much about."
Comments
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Rancho (anonymous) says…
Just another reason to buy locally, or grow your own! OH, the pleasure of do it yourself.
Confrontation (anonymous) says…
People shouldn't assume that buying locally eliminates the risk of salmonella.
Weegie (anonymous) says…
Why aren't people concerned about how our food is processed and handled?? "Oh well, just another food scare, it'll be over soon"?And you're so relaxed that it's ok to have "another food scare"? Salmonella is something you expect to get from poorly handled chicken - not tomatoes.As long as every one is relaxed about this... the more it will happen. And if you don't demand something be done to prevent "another food scare"... well maybe you'll get what's coming.Talk to your politicians for heaven's sake.
Jaylee (anonymous) says…
disconcerting.... but not so as no spinach AHH!H!!flashbacks...
gr (anonymous) says…
"Bathtub cheese anyone?"Before or after bathing?
gr (anonymous) says…
Does anyone know how you get Salmonella on Tomatoes? Well, at least a most probable way? I mean, are they stored in sewage ponds, irrigated with sewage water, grown under a chicken cage, workers wipe with their hands before picking them? That's 145 cases - not just a rare accident. But, then again 145 out of ??? is not very high. However, like Weegie said, it's not something you would expect from tomatoes. Or spinach or any other fruits or vegetables.